Product Description

Join us for a spectacular four-course dinner with Drake Whitcraft, winemaker of Whitcraft Winery. You won’t want to miss this winemaker dinner as Drake produces some of the finest wines coming out of Santa Barbara County. The seasonal dinner will be prepared by Upstairs 2 chef, Maiki Le and wines paired by Sommelier Marilyn Snee.

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Upon Arrival:
Gougères
2017 Whitcraft Winery Ballard Canyon Stolpman Vineyard Grenache ($45)

First Course:
Poached Bartlett Pear Salad
burrata, pecans, wild baby arugula, pickled red onion, cider-honey vinaigrette
2016 Whitcraft Winery Sta. Rita Hills Zotovich Vineyard Chardonnay ($50)
2016 Whitcraft Winery Santa Maria Valley Presqu’ile Vineyard Chardonnay ($50)

Second Course:
Ricotta Gnudi
oyster & shiitake mushrooms, thyme, tarragon cream sauce, asiago
2016 Whitcraft Winery Sta. Rita Hills Pence Ranch Mt Eden Clone “Monopole” Pinot Noir ($72)
2016 Whitcraft Winery Sta. Rita Hills Pence Ranch Clone 115 Pinot Noir ($65)

Third Course:
Five Spice King Cole Duck Breast
wild rice pilaf, butternut squash, brussels sprout leaves, red wine demi
2016 Whitcraft Winery Sta. Rita Hills Pence Ranch Pommard Clone Pinot Noir ($65)
2016 Whitcraft Winery Sta. Rita Hills Pence Ranch Clone 828 Pinot Noir ($65)

Fourth Course:
Payoyo Cheese
walnuts, cornichon, whole grain mustard, ciabatta crisps
2016 Whitcraft Winery My Friend Matt’s Vineyard Syrah ($38)

Note: All wines will be available for purchase after the dinner at special prices for guests at the dinner.

ABOUT WHITCRAFT WINERY
Chris and Kathleen (Barnato) Whitcraft started Whitcraft Winery in 1985. Prior to this and during the winery’s early years, Chris hosted a local wine radio program in Santa Barbara County for more than ten years, and in the process met and learned his craft from some of the best winemakers in California – Joe Heitz (Heitz Cellars), Dick Graff (founded Chalone Winery and its AVA), and Burt Williams (Williams Selyem & Morning Dew Ranch) to name a few. Burt is still an influence as he was one of Chris’s best friends, and like an uncle to Drake. What began in the 70’s as a hobby in the basement of Chris’s wine shop Mayfair Cellars grew into both a passion and a commitment to natural winemaking.

Chris Whitcraft passed in 2014, but since 2008, his son, Drake, has continued the tradition of natural winemaking within the Whitcraft family, making the winery one of Santa Barbara County’s only multi-generational wineries. He is a believer that man cannot improve on what Mother Nature gives us, and that in the cellar you should be more of a Wine Shepherd than a Winemaker.